The government has worked out a plan to allow South African citizens who were not at home or at work when the lockdown went into effect to return home until the end of Level 4 of the lockdown.

They will be given a seven-day window in which to do so, this expires on 7 May. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made the government gazette public on Thursday:

"Any person who was not at their place of residence or work before the lockdown period and who could not travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas during the lockdown, will be permitted, on a once-off basis, to return to their places of residence or work and will be required to stay in such place until the end to the Alert Level 4," according to the regulations.

Dlamini-Zuma revealed that those who wish to use the provision have until 7 May to do so.

This means that those without a permit who are stranded can return home, according to News24.

"For this purpose, there will be no need for people to obtain and produce a permit in order to cross provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries," the regulation states.

However, this is a one-shot deal, strict measures will be put in place preventing anyone from making more than one trip during the allocated time period.

Dlamini-Zuma urged all South Africans "to recognise the unprecedented crisis facing the country due to Covid-19 and to use the opportunity provided for once-off travel responsibly by still adhering to the lockdown regulations".